The Cut That Always Bleeds

Summary: She will always be the cut that always bleeds. He will always let her. Hinata endures, Sasuke knows she doesn't have to. Here's why exes should remain in the past.

Pairing: Naruto x Hinata x Sakura , Eventual Sasuke x Hinata

World: Alternate Universe, Modern Era without special abilities

I own nothing.

A/N: I am a liar who does not know herself - I, in fact, do not have all the time in my hands. I think I will fail to update constantly but I will be trying.


Ten.

She would be lying if she said she did not - for a single minute- miss Konoha and the buzzing life of its streets. But it did not mean she was looking forward to walking her way back to her old life - exactly 29 days prior meeting the dark haired ... mystery.

Hinata fingered the cotton threads of her scarf – one of the softest things she ever landed skin on. With a sigh, she stepped out of the Konoha airport looking for a bright yellow hug that never came.

Instead, she saw pale eyes similar to hers that greeted her with a small tug of the lips ushering her to the car.

On the other hand, she thought, she has to talk to Neji about a sweet surprise she brought home from the Cloud.

"Your Naruto" he started, as he loaded her luggage at the back of his white SUV, "called. He said he can't pick you up because of an emergency. He thought perhaps you were still airborne so he just called me to let you know."

As if expecting this and to swerve the topic from her not so welcomed boyfriend who keeps scoring negative cookie points from her family, Hinata gave Neji a small smile.

"Oh Neji, you… you happen to remember TenTen. Right?"


It was bad.

It was very bad.

Their flight back home was a mirror of his feelings and Sasuke was not having it. After hours and hours of turbulent flying, he managed to send a death glare to his ever-bullied friend Kiba who asked the most preposterous question.

Of all times. Of all settings.

"Your Hina-chan should have landed already in Konoha, no?"

As if he had not already known, calculated, remembered?

Itachi, beside him, gave his brother a side smirk teasing, "So pray tell, Kiba-san. Who is this Hina-chan", her name rolling like silk on Itachi's tongue, "that has my brother smitten?"

"An exchange student from Konoha – who might I add is taken, has a boyfriend waiting for her back home. Quite pretty, really – soft, rich aura, very fine"

Sasuke threw his so called friend another glare but didn't say anything more – it was not as if Kiba said anything wrong, really.

Sasuke looked at his watch before searching through the clouds the answer to his worries, fogging the airplane windows in the process. It felt, slightly as warm as her breath – slightly. It made him want to smile.

Perhaps that was enough, a few days was enough, for a sinner like him to be with her.

Leaning on his seat with closed eyes, Sasuke looked forward to reminiscing the past few days in silence.

"But I wish I could"


SU: Hey, got home safe?

Hinata glanced at her phone, droplets from her hands wetting her - thank kami water resistant -device. Blinking as if thinking what to feel about it, Hinata re-read the message again.

Yes, she wanted to reply – but instead her wrinkled fingers flew to her lips as if… as if..

Sunny: Yes How about you?

Sasuke rolled over his bed, feeling like a schoolboy hyped on chocolate snacks. Usually, he would rather be sedated after a long ass flight, but not this time. Fisting his hands over his dark navy pillow, he swallowed a mouthful before typing again – this time, feeling daring.

SU: Did he pick you up? Flowers and all? I hope so.

Blinking away the hidden feelings of hurt and disappointed, Hinata almost typed I hoped so too. Fighting the thought, she drew a long breath, sinking lower on the tub.

Sunny: No, my cousin did. Naruto had an emergency. Is your jetlag as bad as mine, I hope not!

SU: Pretty sure it is.

Sunny: Tea helps!

SU: or beer?

Sunny: Cinnamon rolls with tea works best

SU: Massage, tomatoes, and tea

Before Hinata got to reply, the door to her bathroom opened with a miracle that she didn't drop her phone in the water. By her door frame stands the man she waited for in the airport but never came. The bright headed man donned in bright orange shirt and pants, newly showered, with a smile that blinded her.

In the warm tub, Hinata's hands remained cold above – her phone caught in between – as if protecting a secret.

"You scared me!" Hinata managed to whisper

He gave her a hearty laugh, "Sorry. I couldn't wait to see you" he said, but a thousand thoughts flew in her head.

Couldn't wait to see me?

Before she knew it, the screen of her phone darkened and there he was leaning on to her for a kiss.

Something in her remembered that she waited for this warmth and this kiss – but somehow…

But I wish I could

"Welcome home, Hime"

.

.

.

.

.

When she didn't reply, he assumed she had finally fallen asleep – but it didn't mean he did too. His mind drifted away, fingers tapping on sheets on his chest.

Whatever this is good, he convinced himself. He had principles and that included not to be involved in anyone who was in a relationship.

Right.

The length of his arm crossed against his eyes as if shutting them down from all thoughts around him, willing him to sleep.

Right.

And yet.

"I won't kiss you" he whispered like a sin, mouth hovering over hers a few centimeters near. If he focused- truly focused, he could even feel the slight tremble of her hands in her pocket – on the background the wind blew as if there was no tomorrow.

Her breath was on his skin and if he were a glass, he would have fogged – but alas they only warmed him if anything more. More. He prayed he had some supernatural abilities to commit to memory how she looked like right now: wide eyes, red, soft cheeks from either cold or alcohol, cold shivering lips apart as if… as if waiting…

She managed to hum in response although honestly, it was barely there.

There were no words to be uttered, at least none yet. Was it the alcohol? Her friends and Naruto always said she was weak on alcohol.

She felt and heard him swallow, eyes still on her lips as if it were a prize.

It was the alcohol, she tried to convince herself. Because there was nothing, no reason at all, to make her not stop whatever is happening right?

She is with Naruto. In a relationship. A relationship she would not throw away for a man – a godly man – she met a few weeks ago.

Right?

Right.

Her eyes traveled outlining as if zeroing to the smallest of his pores – his permanent frowning but now seemed relaxed forehead, the long straight lashes on his eyes, the tall bridge of his nose that might as well be contoured, the slight freckles on his cheeks, the lines under his eyes, the redness of his cheeks that seemed to travel to his ears…

Whatever it was, whatever this was had to stop.

Right.

Right?

"But I wish I could"


A/N: I hope everyone of you are safe from everything that is happening in this world. All my love!